Dental instrument cabinet



Aug. 29, 1 96 7 J,RYAN 3,338,650

I DENTAL INSTRUMENT CABINET Filed April 7, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 11. Hi! I 64 105- i 121d 402) H F '4 4 {21 P011152 X SUPPLY 409 11g 420 105i LJLIW M5 47 5 0 11 1 ll 7 124 93 Z 405 ll51 50 H 115 11 1 INVENTOR James Jay Ryan BY W9 TTURNE .5

Aug. 29, 1967 J RYAN 3,338,650

DENTAL INSTRUMENT CABINET Filed April 7, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 James Jay Ryan BY W S 24% i H mwvays' Filed A ril 3 Sheets-Shem Q 1 Q Q E JWL INVENTOR James Jay Ryan United States Patent 3,338,650 DENTAL INSTRUMENT CABINET James Jay Ryan, 6320 N. Sheridan Road, Peoria, II]. 61614 Filed Apr. 7, 1966, Ser. No. 540,907 Claims. (Cl. 312-209) This invention concerns an improved cabinet for dental instruments.

According to the invention, there is provided a cabinet which can be installed in a hollow wall between two a in the wall. The panel has a number of openings in a which are various conduits for supplying compressed air, water, and electric power, as well as a flexible cable for driving a drill. The several conduits and cable can be drawn out of the openings in the panel for use at either of the dental chairs. The conduits terminate in heads fitted with suitable control valves, chucks for drill bits, receptacle, etc. A motor-driven mechanism is provided for automatically pivoting the cabinet between either of two operative exposed positions. Vertically movable doors are slidably mounted at the openings in the walls. These doors are driven by the drive mechanism of the openings in the walls. These doors are driven by the drive mechanism of the cabinet in opposite directions so that when one door is raised to open one wall opening the other door is lowered to close the other wall opening. The operation of the doors is synchronized with pivoting of the cabinet, so that the doors automatically respectively open and close when the cabinet is pivoted to either operative position. By the arrangement described, two dental operating positions can be supplied with power-driven instrumentalities and utilities from a single wall installation. This effects a considerable saving in cost of a dental equipment installation, as compared with the cost of two complete independent installations. Furthermore, a substantial saving in dental office space is realized. At the same time, all the essential powered equipment and utilities are located close at hand for use by dentist or dentists at both dental operating positions.

It is therefore, a principal object of the invention to provide an assembly of dental equipment, comprising a Another object is to provide an assembly as described, 5 e

in whichthe cabinet is mounted between two sides of a wall having openings in which the panel is exposed in turn, with two doors movably mounted at the wall openings, respectively, for closing one wall opening while opening the other one.

described, with an automatically operated motor-driven mechanism for pivoting the cabinet between two operating positions and for simultaneously raising one of the doors to clear one wall opening while lowering the other door to close the other wall opening.

For further comprehension of the invention and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings and to theappended claims in which the various novel feawhere panel 20 is to be located while the other door tures of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of an assembly embodying the invention.

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FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is another vertical sectional view taken on line 33 of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a diagram of an electric circuit employed in the assembly.

Referring first to FIGS. 1-3, the assembly comprises a generally rectangular cabinet 10 having two horizontal walls 12, 13, joined at their ends by two vertical end walls 14, 15. The cabinet has a rectangular vertical panel 20 joined to coplanar front edges of walls 1215. The cabinet has a rectangular rear opening 22 formed in rear vertical 24 joined to coplanar rear edges of walls 12-15. The cabinet is mounted between opposite side facings 21, 23 of a hollow wall 25 separating two dental operating positions A and B where dental chairs C, D are indicated by dotted lines. The chairs may be located about two feet from wall 25 or at some other short convenient distance. Frames 30a, 30b, mounted in the respective side facings of the wall 25, define aligned rectangular openings 32a, 32b respectively. These openings may have beveled edges 33. Located inwardly of the frames 30a, 30b are two vertically disposed and vertically movable rectangular doors 34a, 34b respectively arranged to close the openings 32a, 32b. The doors are suspended on flexible cables 35a, 35b so that when one door is raised, the other door is lowered and vice versa. The doors are guided in vertical channels 36 located at opposite vertical edges of the doors. The channels 36 are secured to posts 38 which are in turn secured to inner sides of the wall facings 21 and 23.

Two axially aligned shafts 40a, 40b are secured to the end walls 14, 15 of the cabinet. These shafts are rotatably journaled in spaced bearing brackets 41, 42 and 43, 44. Bearing brackets 41, 42 and 43 are supported by a fnarnework 45 mounted above a horizontal table or platform 46 inside wall 25. Bracket 44 is supported on platform 46. A reversible motor 50 is mounted on platform 46. This motor has a shaft 52 carrying a drive sprocket 54. Entrained on the sprocket is a drive chain or belt 55 engaged on another sprocket 56 carried by and secured to shaft 40a. It will be apparent that when the motor shaft, which may be provided with a speed reducing mechanism, is driven in one direction or another the cabinet 10 will pivot in one direction or another. The cabinet will pivot one half turn counterclockwise from the position shown in FIG. 2 as indicated by arrows AA. This will expose panel 20 at frame opening 32b. If the cabinet is then pivoted one half turn clockwise, the panel 20 will be returned to opening 32a where it is shown located in FIG. 2.

At the upper inside corners of door 34a are brackets 61a, 62a. At the upper inside corners of door 34b are brackets 61b, 62b. On shafts 40a, 40b are two pulleys 64, 66. Cable 35a is secured at opposite ends to brackets 61a, 62b. Mounted on vertical wall boards 68, 70 at the inner sides of the two wall facings 23, 24 are idler pulleys C=72,72brd7, Still another object is to provide an assembly as last a an M 74b respectively cable passes upwardly from bracket 61a around pulley 72a, then down under pulley 64 up over pulley 74a, and down to bracket 61b. Cable 35b similarly passes upwardly from bracket 61b over pulley 72b, then down under pulley 66, up over pulley 62b and finally down to bracket 62b. By the arrangement described, the weight of door 34a balances the weight of door 34b. The cables support 'both doors between the channels 36. When the cabinet 10 is pivoted, either door 34a or 34b will rise to open the opening descends to close the wall opening from which panel 20 is withdrawn. The same drive mechanism which pivots the cabinet 10 also drives to doors 34a, 34b to open and close them.

Shaft 40b carries two fixed arms 76, 78 spaced apart axially of the shaft and also spaced apart about 90 angularly. They are arranged so that in one position of the cabinet as shown in FIG. 2, arm 76 will contact and move operating arm 77 of a switch 79 mounted on framework 45. In an opposite position of the cabinet, arm 78 will contact and move operating arm 80 of another switch 81 mounted on the framework.

Panel 20 has aplurality of openings 82. Tubular fittings 84 are supported in panel openings 82 and in openings 82a of partition 83. Conduits 85-89 are movably inserted in each of the fittings. These conduits terminate in operating heads 90 including valves, chucks or other suitable instrumentalities. The conduits are all flexible and slack. They can slide axially through the fittings. They pass through opening 22 in rear wall 24 and down through openings 91, 92 formed in framework 45 and platform 46. They terminate at drive motors, air and Water pumps, electrical outlets, or other power and utility sources (not shown) located inside of wall 25. An operating switch button 93, 94 is provided on each of the wall facings 21 and 23 for actuating the electric circuit 100 of the assembly. The electric circuit 100 is shown in FIG. 4 to which reference is now made.

In circuit 100 is shown a suitable power supply 102 having two terminals 103, 104. The circuit further includes normally-open pushbutton switches 93, 94 each having two contacts 105, 106 and 107, 108. Contacts 105, 107 are connected to power supply terminal 103. The circuit includes two relays 110, 112. Relay 110 has three poles 113, 114, 115 normally open with respect to contacts 116, 117, 118. Relay 112 has three poles 19, 20, 21 normally open with respect to contacts 122, 123, 124. Switches 81 and 79 are pushbutton type microswitches having normally closed contacts 130, 131, and 132, 133.

Relay contact 116 is connected to contact 132 of switch 79. Relay contacts 117 and 118 are connected to motor terminals 124, 125 respectively. Relay pole 113 and switch contact 106 are connected to one end of the coil of relay 110. The other end of the relay coil is connected to power supply terminal 104. Relay poles 114 and 115 are connected to power supply terminals 103, 104 respectively. Switch contact 133 is connected to power supply terminal 103.

One end of the coil of relay 112 is connected to relay contact 122 and to contact 108 of switch 94. The other end of the relay coil is connected to power supply terminal 104. Relay pole 119 is connected to switch contact 131. Switch contact 130 is connected to power supply terminal 103. Relay poles 119 and 120 are connected to power supply terminals 103, 104. Relay contacts 123 and 124 are connected to motor terminals 125 and 124 respectively. It will be noted that the motor is de-energized as shown in FIG. 4 because the relays are de-energized and the switches" 93, 94 are open.

Now in operation of the assembly, taking it from the position of FIGS. l-3, suppose it is desired to operate the dental instrumentalities at dental operating position B. Switch 79 is open because it is being held by arm 76. Suppose switch 94 is now closed momentarily. The relay 112 will become energized and will remain energized through pole 119 closed with contact 122, even though switch 94 is now released and opens. The motor will be energized .and will turn the cabinet counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 2 for one half of a cycle or 180. Switch 79 closes when the cabinet starts to return. Switch 81 is closed by arm 78 when the cabinet completes one half cycle and is precisely positioned at wall opening 32b. Then the arm 78 opens switch 81 which opens the power supply circuit of the relay 112. This relay becomes de-energized and the power supply circuit of the motor 50 is opened. As the cabinet pivots, door 34b rises to clear opening 32b while door 34a descends to close opening 32a. Arm 78 bearing on switch 81 helps hold the cabinet 10 level with panel 20 vertical. When it is desired to reverse the positon of the cabinet, pushbutton 93 will be pushed momentarily at dental operating position A. The power supply circuit of the motor will be reversed through contacts of relay and the cabinet will pivot clockwise until arm 76 opens switch 79. At the same time door 34b will descend while door 34a rises to the position shown in FIG. 2. The switches 79 and 81 serve as limit switches as well as stop members in cooperation with angularly disposed arms 76, 78.

By the arrangement described, there is provided an automatic, means for selectively utilizing a plurality of dental instruments at either of two operating positions. When the instruments are exposed at one operating position, the other position is closed by a door to conceal the back of the cabinet carrying the instruments. When the cabinet is in either of its operating positions, the flexible conduits and cables are bent no more than 90 as they pass through the opening 22 in the rear wall 24 of the cabinet. This moderate bend enables moving cables such as motor-driven flexible shafts to be fully operative. The flexible conduits which carry air, water and electric power easily bend when the cabinet 10 is pivoted from one position to another. In each direction of movement of the cabinet no flexible conduit is bent more than so that no kinks can develop and the conduits cannot become tangled around the cabinet.

Any desired number of conduits and types can be provided at the panel 20, the number shown in the drawings being oniy exemplary. In each case the conduits will be sufliciently long and slack so that they can be easily pulled out of the cabinet and just as easily retracted.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An instrument assembly for use at either one of two spaced instrument operating positions, comprising a rectangular panel, opposing wall members joined to edges of said panel to define a generally rectangular cabinet, said panel having spaced openings therein, generally cylindrical fittings secured in said openings and extending perpendicular from said panel inwardly of said cabinet, a plurality of flexible conduits having operating heads at one end respectively disposed in said fittings, said conduits being movable axially through the fittings for ex-' tension out of the cabinet said conduits extending rearwardly through and out of cabinet in a direction opposite from the panel, and shaft means joined to opposite end wall members of the cabinet parallel to said panel for pivoting the cabinet on a horizontal axis in either of two opposite directions to expose the panel in either of two spaced vertical positions, said conduits being bent angularly not more than 90 at points where they extend rearwardly out of the cabinet.

2. An instrument assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising means supporting said shaft means for pivoting on said horizontal axis, and a drive motor operatively connected to said shaft means for driving the same.

3. An instrument assembly as recited in claim 2, further comprising a pair of spaced, stationary limit switches, a pair of angularly spaced arms carried by said shaft means and arranged for contacting the limit switches respectively at either of two limits of pivoting of the cabinet spaced 180 apart, said switches being connected in circuit with said motor for stopping the motor when the cabinet is at either one of its two limits of movement.

4. An instrument assembly as recited in claim 2, further comprising pulleys carried by said shaft means, flX-' ible cables entrained on said pulleys, and a pair of vertically movable doors spaced apart and disposed at the two instrument operating positions respectively, said cables being joined at opposite ends to the doors so that one door rises when the other door descends and vice versa, while the cabinet is pivoted in each of said two opposite directions.

5. An instrument assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising a hollow vertical wall separating said tWo instrument operating positions, said vertical wall having two spaced vertical facings formed with aligned rectangular openings, means pivotally supporting said cabinet inside said wall with said shaft means disposed in an axially horizontal position, so that the panel is exposed in each of the openings in the wall facings in turn at each of said two vertical positions of the panel.

6. An instrument assembly as recited in claim 5, further comprising a drive motor operatively connected to said shaft means for driving the same, a pair of spaced, stationary limit switches, a pair of angularly spaced arms carried by said shaft means and arranged for contacting the limit switches respectively at either of two limits of movement of the cabinet spaced 180 apart, said switches being connected in circuit with said motor for stopping the motor when the cabinet is at either one 'of its two limits of movement.

7. An instrument assembly as recited in claim 5, further comprising first pulleys carried by said shaft means, second pulleys mounted inside said wall facings, flexible cables entrained on said first and second pulleys, and a 8. An instrument assembly as recited in claim 7, further comprising a drive motor operatively connected to said shaft means for driving the same, a pair of stationary spaced limit switches, a pair of angularly spaced arms carried by said shaft means and arranged for contacting the limit switches respectively at either of two limits of movement of the cabinet spaced apart, said switches being connected in circuit with said motor for stopping the motor when the cabinet is at either one of its two limits of movement.

9. An instrument assembly as recited in claim 7, further comprising a drive motor operatively connected to said shaft means for driving the same, limit switches disposed for actuation alternately at either of two limits of movement of the cabinet spaced 180 apart, said switches being connected in circuit with said motor for stopping the motor when the cabinet is at either one of its two limits of movement.

10. An instrument assembly as recited in claim 9, further comprising manually operable other switches, a power supply, and circuit means interconnecting the limit switches, motor, power supply and other switches, so that the motor starts to turn the cabinet in any one of said directions when one of the other switches is operated and the motor turns the cabinet in the opposite direction when the other one of the other switches is operated.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,112,968 12/1963 Cotton et a1 312-223 X 3,271,859 9/1966 Horowitz et a1. 312-209 X 3,304,609 2/1967 Horowitz et al. 32-22 CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN INSTRUMENT ASSEMBLY FOR USE AT EITHER ONE OF TWO SPACED INSTRUMENT OPERATING POSITIONS, COMPRISING A RECTANGULAR PANEL, OPPOSING WALL MEMBERS JOINED TO EDGES OF SAID PANEL TO DEFINE A GENERALLY RECTANGULAR CABINET, SAID PANEL HAVING SPACED OPENINGS THEREIN, GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL FITTINGS SECURED IN SAID OPENINGS AND EXTENDING PERPENDICULAR FROM SAID PANEL INWARDLY OF SAID CABINET, A PLURALITY OF FLEXIBLE CONDUITS HAVING OPERATING HEADS AT ONE END RESPECTIVELY DISPOSED IN SAID FITTING, SAID CONDUITS BEING MOVABLE AXIALLY THROUGH THE FITTINGS FOR EXTENSION OUT OF THE CABINET SAID CONDUITS EXTENDING REARWARDLY THROUGH AND OUT OF CABINET IN A DIRECTION OPPOSITE FROM THE PANEL, AND SHAFT MEANS JOINED TO OPPOSITE END WALL MEMBERS OF THE CABINET PARALLEL TO SAID PANEL FOR PIVOTING THE CABINET ON A HORIZONTAL AXIS IN EITHER OF 